Combination space heater



M. E. HOOD COMBINATION Nov. 10, 1936.

SPACE HEATER Filed Aug. 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwucm tom Myron E.H0od

M E. HOOD Nov, 10, 1936.

COMBINATION S-PACE HEATER Filed Aug. 21, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ewucwtoo Myron E.Ho0d

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Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES P ET OFFICE Myron E. Hood,

Application August 21,

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to space heating devices and has for an object the provision of a combination gas and electric heater that is adapted for use both in open fireplaces and in heater cabinets and which is furthermore of such construction as to permit of expeditious installation at a comparatively low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heater of the character described wherein the gas heating unit and the electric heating unit are capable of separate or joint use, producing different heating effects and also different Visible effects at the will of the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heater of this type that is economically operated from the usual household gas and electric light supply lines, although the electric heating unit may be of such capacity as to require special electric supply lines.

The invention also has for an object the shiftable arrangement of the electric heating unit so as to either disclose or conceal the gas heating unit with the latter operative or inoperative, said electric heater unit also being usable in either its visible or concealed position.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the device of the invention installed in a fireplace, with the electric heater unit in lowered position, the elec tric heating elements being shown diagrammatically for the most part, and the said electric heater unit being partly broken away to show the fire clay backwall of the gas heater unit.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental section of the composite electric heater unit.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a cabinet type heater showing, in dotted lines, the installation of the device of the invention therein.

Fig. 7 is a rear view of the device of Fig. 6.

The device is designed so that a given construction will fit in any one of several sizes of fireplace opening and is thus easily standardized as to size.

The heater combination of the present invention is adapted to installation either in an open fireplace with the usual flue or vent opening, or in a suitable cabinet having means to connect it to a fiue or vent. The construction. 01 the heater is the same in either arrangement, save that when used for cabinet heaters it is preferred to extend Cincinnati, Ohio 1933, Serial No. 685,986

the base of the device beyond the back of the heater to suit the depth of cabinet. In view of this a detailed description of the combination heater as applied to an open fireplace will be sufiicient.

Referring to the drawings, which show a preferred form of the device of the invention, it will be noted that an ordinary fireplace opening or recess i l in the wall i 2 of a room, extending from the level of the fioor I3 to a suitable height, receives the combination gas and electric heater. A base it of refractory material of high mechanical strength is set firmly on the bottom 83 of the fireplace. Base 124 is of lesser width than the fireplace opening .and is set with a predetermined portion extending forwardly of the opening. The depth of the base is such as to be received in even a shallow fireplace. A pair of sidewall members I5 of high mechanical strength preferably have inclined rear edges which are connected across the back by a sheet metal or high mechanical strength refractory slab I6 which is in turn suitably secured to base l4 along the rear edge thereof. A top slab i'l having a rearwardly inclined transverse bent slot I8 is connected to the tops of sidewalls l5 and the back slab IS. The forward edge of the top slab I8 terminates approximately in the plane of the room wall at the front of the existing fireplace opening.

As can be best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the sidewalls I5 have inclined opposed ways or grooves l9 which snugly and slidably receive a fireclay backwall 20 which slopes forwardly at the top and extends from the base HZ nearly to the top slab ll. The front face of the backwall 26 has staggered integral bosses or protuberances 2! preferably arranged in symmetrical design as can be seen, in part, in Fig. 1.

The sidewalls 55 extend forwardly to the front edge of base It and have the forward portion of their opposed faces tapered outwardly as at 22.

That portion of each sidewall that extends exteriorly of the normal fireplace opening is extended to the level of the top of slab il and closely adjacent the front of top slab ii is a vertical slot 23 beneath which is an aligned way 24. A metal bar i561 connects the front free top edges of sidewalls if. The ways 24 receive a stationary block 25 that is widely apertured as at 26 and which rests on the base M. The opposed vertical ways 24 slidably receive a composite electric heating unit 21 hereinafter described in detail. The slots 23 receive the lifting means when the electric heating unit is lowered to visible position concealing the gas heating unit which includes the backwall 20.

An inclined refractory shield 28 seats, at its opposite ends, in suitable notches in the sidewalls l5 and conceals block and the gas supply and control means 29.

An ornamental front housing, indicated generally at 30, is of greater height and width than the fireplace opening and is provided with side flanges 3| and top flange 32 that join with the room wall |2. A baffle 33 forms a vertical chamber 34 in the upper part of the front housing and connects with the top slab thereby closing off any existing space between the top of the heater and the top of the fireplace opening.

The walls 3| have slots 35 bounded by inturned flanges 36 that receive operating rod 31 that extends loosely through eyebolts or hooks 38 that are anchored in the electric heating unit 21. Slots 35 terminate in notches 39 that hold rod 3'! in elevated position, the eyebolts being so constructed as to permit rod 31 to move into notches 39, at which time the composite electric unit is housed substantially out of sight within the vertical chamber 34, leaving the backwall 20 exposed to view through the opening 4|] beneath hood 4| which forms a part of the ornamental housing 30. The lower ends of slots 35 coincide substantially with the lower end of slots 23. Above the hood 4| are louvers 42 concealing a plurality of openings in the front of vertical chamber 34 and permitting the downward deflection of heat from the chamber as well as the indirect reflection of luminous glow when the electric heating unit is energized and concealed in the chamber.

A grill 43, which may be a removable part of the ornamental front 30, serves to frame the opening below the shield 28 and to conceal the pipe and valve 29.

The gas burner 44 may be of any approved construction such as a gas supply tube mounted transversely across the base 4 closely adjacent inclined backwall 20 and supported on the base by brackets 45. Spaced nipples 46 feed gas into individual open bottomed mixer shells arranged in a series above them as shown at 41 (see Figs. 2 and 3). The ribbon-like openings 48 direct a corresponding series of flattened blue gas flames upwardly over the fireclay backwall and its bosses 2| which direct the heat outwardly and toward the floor of the room. The gas supply to fireplaces is usually in the rear thereof as at 49 and to this is connected pipes 50 and 5| and the accessible valve controlled pipe 29 which in turn is connected to the burner 44 by a pipe 52. The burner preferably functions somewhat like a series of Bunsen burners. The fumes pass directly to vent l8 and to the flue. Some of the heat may rise into the vertical chamber 34 when the electric heating unit is elevated. Practically all of the heat from the gas burner must pass into the vertical chamber when the electric heating element is lowered. This heat is directed downwardly by louvers 42 and hood 4| and is fully effective within the room to be heated under any arrangement of the parts.

The composite electric heating unit is so constructed as to operate in raised or lowered position with the gas heating unit operative or inoperative in either event. Under these circumstances it is necessary not only that the front of the composite electric heating unit be adapted to receive the electric heating resistance elements, but that the rear of the composite electric heating unit be so constructed as to resist the direct heat from the gas heating unit. Such a structure is effected by employing a front refractory slab and a rear refractory slab of high mechanical strength, the front slab 53 having on its reverse face 54 several rows of threadedly bored spacing bosses 55 against which the inner face of the rear slab 55 is secured by screws 51. The face 54 also has suitably arranged pairs of integral fingers 58 between which supply conductor wires 59 and 50 are held against shifting. A single pair of anchor pins El and 62 hold the free ends of wires 59 and 60. As can be clearly seen in Fig. 1 the wires 59 and 60 are connected to a suitable switch 63 by a suitably insulated flexible cable 64 from which the said wires 59 and 60 are carried in spaced relation between appropriately disposed pairs of fingers 58 through paths that include, between said wires, the pairs of pcrfora tions 65. cates, on the front face of front slab 53 with the ends of a sinuous groove 66 of suitable design, one of such grooves appearing in dotted lines in Fig. 4 on an enlarged scale. Suitable lengths of coiled electric resistance heating element 61 are set in the several grooves and the opposite ends 68 and 69 of such heating elements are passed through the perforations 65 and electrically connected to wires 59 and 60 in any suitable manner as by welding. The composite electric heating unit shown in Fig. 1 has six of these individual heating resistance elements 61 shown diagrammatically for the most part in single full straight line. In the lower left hand corner the coil 6! is shown held in place at the corner of the groove by an integral lug 70. One of these lugs 10 overhangs the groove 66 at each corner or turn and provides a simple means beneath which the resistance element may be pressed and held against accidental displacement. Fig. 5 shows one complete groove with its coil and connections.

Switch 63 is connected to a suitable source of house current (not shown) by suitable wires 1|.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the electric heating unit may be energized while in its lowered position wherein it conceals the gas heating unit behind it. The electric heating unit may be raised into concealed position in the vertical chamber 34 by means of the heat insulated handles l2 and retained there by engaging the rods 31 in notches 39. If the electric heating unit is energized while in the elevated, concealed posi-- tion its heat is directed into the room through the louvers and only a reflected glow from the resistance elements can be detected.

The gas burner is controlled and adjusted, according to practices common to radiant gas heaters, to provide a quiet blue ribbon-like flame that is directed upwardly over the forwardly inclined face of back-wall 20. The electric heating elements are energized by manipulation of switch 63.

The combined gas and electric device of the invention is capable of six different adjustments or positions while in operation, namely, wherein:

1. The units are both operative, the gas unit visible and the electric unit concealed.

2. The gas heating unit is visible and inoperative and the electric heating unit is operative and concealed.

3. The electric heating unit is invisible and inoperative and the gas unit is visible and operative.

4. The electric heating unit is visible and inoperative while the gas unit is operative and invisible.

Each pair of perforations 65 communl- 5. The units are both operative, the electric unit being visible and the gas unit concealed.

6. The electric heating unit is visible and operative while the gas heating unit is inoperative and concealed.

The device is readily adjusted to any of the foregoing arrangements according to the decorative and/or utilitarian effect desired. For maximum heat output both units are rendered operative, the gas unit visible and the electric unit concealed but adding a reflecting radiance above the visible radiance of the gas unit.

During relatively mild weather the gas heating unit may be rendered inoperative and. the chill may be removed from the room by reflected radiance under the louvers and hood while the electric unit is concealed to avoid brilliancy of light from the fireplace.

During cold weather the device may be used simply as a radiant gas heater, the electric unit being concealed. If the brilliancy of the gas flame is for any reason objectionable, the inoperative electric unit may be lowered to conceal the gas unit. If a large amount of heat is required and the pleasant glow of the electric unit is preferred, both units are energized, the electric unit con" cealing the gas unit which furnishes most of the heat. If it is desired to remove the chill from a room in relatively mild weather and retain the pleasant glow of the electric unit, the electric unit is allowed to remain visible and energized while the gas unit is inoperative.

The cabinet type of heater shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is useful in rooms that have no Wall recess or fireplace. The combination gas and electric heater as previously described in detail is used and differs only in having an integral extension I40 on base 14 for greater stability. The base is rigidly secured to a framework 13 supported on legs 14. The front of the cabinet is in all material respects exactly like the ornamental front 30 of the device of Fig. 1 and the parts thereof as well as the parts of the heating units are numbered to correspond with those of the previous description. The side walls 15 have the flanged slots 35 therein. The back 16 of the cabinet may be plain and has a collar 11 about vent 18 for connection with a flue by means of pipe 19. A sheet metal top member connects with bafiie 33 and the side walls and back of the cabinet to prevent escape of fumes into the room. An ornamental top 8! is provided on the cabinet to give it a finished appearance. The electric supply wire H may be brought out of the cabinet at any suitable place for connection with a house current outlet. The gas supply pipe 50 for the burner is conveniently brought through the bottom of cabinet and is preferably controlled by an exteriorly disposed valve 82.

Any suitable decorative finish may be applied to the surfaces of the cabinet and to the exposed parts of the device of Fig. 1. It is to be understood that the depth of the cabinet body may be made proportionately greater or less than: is shown in the drawings.

The preferred means for vertically shifting the composite electric heating unit may be replaced by any other suitable mechanism, for example, pulleys with cables and counterweights may be used.

The operation of the combined gas and electric heater of the invention is extremely simple and easy. The composite electric heating unit is lifted and lowered by means of handles 12 and is secured in or released from its raised position by merely entering or removing the rods from the notches. The manipulation of the switch is all that is necessary to energize and de-energize the electric heating unit and the gas heating unit is controlled in known manner.

What is claimed is:

1. In a heater of the class described the combination of an open front radiant gas heating unit adapted to be received in a suitably vented recess, an apertured ornamental front housing communicating with the interior of said gas unit and extending above the gas unit at the front thereof, means including the upper part of said housing providing a louvered vertical chamber, guide means at opposite sides of the gas unit and housing and a composite electric heating unit constructed to close the aperture to conceal the gas heating unit when in lowered position, and shiftable in the guide means to positions respectively wherein said composite unit closes the open front of the gas unit and the gas heating unit is concealed and wherein the electric heater unit is concealed in the vertical chamber for the selective joint and several energization of said units in the selected exposed and concealed positions.

2. In a combination gas and electric heater, a radiant gas heating unit having an open front, an apertured front housing therefor providing a forwardly disposed vertical chamber above the gas heating unit, an opaque imperforate composite electric heating unit shiftable vertically into and from the vertical chamber for selectively exposing the gas unit and electric unit to view and means to energize the electric unit in any position regardless of the operative condition of the gas heating unit.

3. A combination gas and electric heater comprising a refractory backwall, sidewalls and a vented top, the sidewalls being oppositely grooved in a plane adjacent the forward edge of the top, a gas heating unit adjacent the backwall, a rigid opaque composite electric heating unit vertically movable in said grooves and constructed to close the opening between said grooves to conceal the gas unit when in lowered position, a vented stationary block to support the electric heating unit in its lowered position whereby the gas heating unit is concealed thereby, and means providing a vertical chamber with louvered openings therein to receive and conceal the electric heating unit and expose the gas heating unit, said units being jointly and severally energizable in any and all positions.

4. In a combination gas and electric heater, a front housing member having louvered openings in the upper portion and an enlarged opening in the lower portion, a gas heating unit including refractory walls disposed behind said lower opening, means cooperating with the louvered portion of the housing to form a vertical chamber, open at its bottom and communicating with the space in the gas heating unit, and an independently energizable opaque electric heating unit movable from a concealed position in the vertical chamber to a visible position within the enlarged opening, said electric unit being constructed to close said enlarged opening and conceal the gas heating unit.

5. In a fireplace heater the combination with a radiant gas heating unit, of a housing apertured to normally expose the gas heating unit, a rigid composite opaque electric heating unit bodily adjustable vertically into the housing above the gas heating unit, said housing having louvered openings to provide for the discharge of heat from the electric heating unit in said elevated position, means to support the electric unit in a lowered position, said electric unit being constructed to close the aperture so that it conceals the gas heating unit, means to energize the electric heating unit in both positions, and means for effecting bodily vertical shifting of the rigid composite electric unit to either position.

6. In a device of the class described the combination with an open front radiant gas fireplace unit, of an ornamental fireplace front having an opening for such gas unit, said front extending upwardly of the top of the gas unit and forming a vertical louvered chamber communieating at its bottom with the interior forward portion of the gas unit, an opaque backed composite electric heating unit, means to vertically move the electric unit to a concealed position within and closely adjacent the louvered front of the chamber, and to an exposed position across the opening for the gas unit whereby the gas unit is concealed and means to selectively energize and de-energize the electric unit independently of its position, the gas and electric units being jointly and severally operative in all ad justed positions to selectively produce variable amounts of heat with and without direct radiance.

'7. In a combination gas and electric radiant heater, a radiant gas heating unit having a vent opening therein, an apertured ornamental front extending above the gas heating unit and providing a louvered chamber above the gas heating unit and isolated from the vent opening an imperforate electric heating unit constructed to close the opening and to conceal the gas unit and adapted for alternate positioning in concealed relation within the louvered chamber, and in a visible position before the gas heating unit, the top of the electric heating unit in said last mentioned position being below the louvered chamber to enable the discharge of heat from the gas heating unit over the top of the electric heating unit and also through the louvered chamber.

8. In combination a heater cabinet having a hooded opening in the front wall thereof, a radiant gas heating unit mounted within the cabinet, means forming a vertical chamber above and forwardly of the gas heating unit and an electric heating unit vertically adjustable into and, from the vertical chamber whereby to selectively conceal the gas heating unit and the electric heating unit, said units being jointly and severally eifectively energizable in each position of the electric heating unit.

MYRON E. HOOD.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,060,079. November 10, 1936.

MYRON E. HOOD.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows I Page 4, second column, line '7, claim '7, before "an" insert and; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of February, A. D. 1937.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,060,079. November 10, 1936.

MYRON E. HOOD.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows Page 4, second column, line '7, claim 7, before "an" insert and; and that the said. Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed. and sealed this 16th day of February, A. D. 1957.

Henry Van Arsclale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

